The DTV transition and the convergence of traditional broadcast with new media and other delivery methods drove NAB ’99 last week in Las Vegas.
The far-reaching impact of these subjects presents some new challenges, as well as some exciting new opportunities for the industry. And these topics, as well as technology itself, were debated and discussed at the confab, which drew roughly 105,000 attendees.
DTV discussion continued at its current pace on the subject of image quality, but it accelerated in the areas of datacasting and interactivity. In fact, Federal Communication Commission chairman William Kennard told broadcasters during an address: "Data is the ‘killer app’ of digital TV. Just as the jet airplane revolutionized travel in the sky, when the broadcast airwaves go digital, it will revolutionize television in this country. I am convinced of that."
As an example of datacasting and advertising, Salt Lake City-headquartered Philips Digital Video Systems showed "The Gift" a spot for Philips halogen light bulbs created by New York-based Messner Vetere Berger McNamee Schmetterer/Euro RSCG. The spot was upconverted to HDTV and included data on Home Depot stores in North America that carry the product. In a demonstration, attendees could enter their zip code on the TV screen, and at the end of the spot learn the location of the nearest store where the bulbs could be purchased.
Also making advertising news at NAB was Barry Rebo, HD consultant to The Ad Council and principal of New York-based Rebo Associates. He reported that as a result of NAB meetings and demos, The Ad Council’s HD-posted PSAs would likely ship to roughly a dozen U.S. stations to run during HD broadcasts. He added that The Ad Council is also in discussion with retailers about running the PSAs as demo material in stores.
Of course, most in the commercialmaking community go to NAB to look at technology. And this year the exhibit halls were packed with H/DTV tools-significantly more than in ’98-and included much developing 24P technology. For many in post, the excitement surrounded the possibility of 1080/24P as a mastering format. "In Hollywood, the advent of 1080/24P is almost a religious experience," said ITS past president Ron Burdett, CEO of Glendale, Calif.-based Sunset Post. "We live in a 24 frame world-except for video."
Electronic cinematography was also a hot topic. L.A.-based Sony Electronics, and U.K.-headquartered Panavision announced that they are collaborating on an HD camera system that combines the 1080/24P camera developed by Sony with Panavision lenses and accessories. Prototype systems are scheduled to be delivered to Lucasfilm, San Rafael, Calif., this fall for testing and are expected to lead to use for the upcoming Star Wars movies scheduled to begin production in spring 2000.
Meanwhile, rampant at the confab was speculation on an expected spinout, merger or acquisition of the video broadcast portion of Beaverton, Ore.-based Tektronix’s video networking division, which includes the Grass Valley and Profile product lines. Industry sources named Pinnacle Systems, Mountain View, Calif., Leitch, Chesapeake, Va., and Chyron, Melville, N.Y. as potential buyers. Representatives of Tektronix confirmed that some sort of deal is in the offing but declined to discuss it further, only estimating that an announcement would be made in the coming months. They contended that the pending transaction does not affect product development for Grass Valley and Profile which is proceeding full speed ahead.
"Cool" Stuff
Each year some "cool" new toys from young companies also generate a buzz. This year was no exception.
As expected Synapix, the Lowell-based developer of SynaFlex was a hit. SynaFlex is a 3-D analysis, choreography and compositing system viewed by many as a tool that can greatly reduce the need for traditional compositing and rotoscoping. Expected to ship in early August on Huntsville, Ala.-based Intergraph’s StudioZ workstation, the system is priced at approximately $220,000, based on configuration.
In a new development, SynaPix and Toronto-based SGI subsidiary Alias|Wavefront announced a licensing and development agreement. Under the terms of the pact, Alias/Wavefront will license its Maya software for incorporation into a future version of SynaFlex. The integration would provide access to Maya’s modeling, graphics and animation tools from within the SynaFlex user interface.
Also catching a buzz in the area of 2-D/3-D integration is 3DV, Yokneam, Israel. The company, founded in ’96, demonstrated a developing real-time 3-D camera called Zcam that enables 3-D data capture and manipulation. The camera is being developed to capture color and depth-the distance from the camera to each pixel.
With a focus on the production and post markets, 3DV demonstrated the camera by isolating an actor and adding a 3-D object into the scene-moving the object in front of and behind other elements. The company said it is looking to work with potential customers to further test the technology.
Another new face was U.K.-based Unique ID, which unveiled Cakes, a Web-based asset-tracking and production management system specifically designed to address the need of post houses and their clients in tracking of material and scheduling of jobs in post.
Unique ID is a subsidiary of London-based visual effects boutique Smoke & Mirrors. Development actually began in- house for internal facility use. In the spring of ’98, Unique ID was created when the company decided to market the system to outside facilities.
Users would enter Cakes via their Web browser; a password is required for security. They would then access contacts, media and jobs stored on a database. The way the system is being designed, a microchip would be attracted to every tape coming into a post house. Any frame or sequence subsequently played from that tape would be stored as compressed video on a central server. Agency clients could view these elements at a post house or remotely via the Internet.
Cakes is currently in beta. Its first sale was to London-based The Moving Picture Company.
Many NAB highlighted products from major manufacturers and software developers were detailed in SHOOT’s "Road to NAB" series, and generated much attention at NAB. Facility execs also explored tools-including asset management and storage-to complete an environment.
As expected, nonlinear editing/compositing was a huge area of interest. Avid Technology, Tewksbury, Mass., Montreal-based Autodesk subsidiary Discreet; and U.K.-based Quantel reported that they were pleased with show sales and anticipated the buying pace to continue to pick up. Most seem to think the heavy buying for H/DTV postproduction will begin in six to 18 months.
At press time, SHOOT learned that Red Car’s New York office ordered Discreet’s Smoke and Flame. (Red Car is bicoastal, with additional offices in Chicago and Dallas.) Quantel’s reported customers include New York-based The Blue Rock Editing Co., which purchased a second Henry; and Nice Shoes, which purchased its fourth Quantel system, an Infinity.
In a private suite, Seattle-based Jaleo previewed Tempest HD, and HD editing software with a similar interface to the original Jaleo system and an expanded feature set. Tempest HD is currently in beta at New York-based The Tape House; Atlanta-based Crawford Communications is also helping with product testing. Before NAB, Jaleo had already closed several Tempest-HD sales at companies including Downstream, Portland, Ore.; Performance Post, L.A.; GTN, Oak Park, Mich.; and The Tape House.
Numerous HD software-based systems, including those from Jaleo and Discreet, have long required a not yet available real time I/O board. But SGI’s much-anticipated board was demoed this year. Director of entertainment markets Andy Sheldon explained that due to customer demand, SGI will take orders for the board until May 17, build all of them, and ship them at the same time, likely in mid-June. Sheldon told SHOOT that in addition to U.S. facilities, there was also a high level of interest in the board from U.K.-based post houses interested in grabbing some American work.
Switching to telecine, U.K.-based Innovation TK said its Y-Front HD upgrade for the URSA Diamond would likely enter beta in June. First to receive a beta system will be U.K.-based TVI. In August, New York-based Manhattan Transfer is scheduled to become the first U.S. beta site.
But perhaps bigger news for ITK was that it accepted purchase orders from New York-based Nice Shoes for three not yet released Millenium telecine systems, which are scheduled to be unveiled in September at IBC. The first is scheduled for delivery to Nice Shoes during Q1 of 2000,followed by the next two over that year.
"They’re great engineers," explained Nice Shoes partner/ director of engineering Joe Botazzi. "The products work, support is excellent, they’re easy to work with." As Millenium is not ready, Botazzi said in the interim Nice Shoes expects to buy a third URSA Diamond and equip it with Y-Front HD.
In ’97, Nice Shoes had signed purchase orders for Valencia, Calif-based Cintel’s C-Reality. That deal has been withdrawn. "C-Reality works but needs to be finessed," Botazzi commented.
C-Reality did, however, attract buyers at NAB. For instance, a second system went to Post Logic, Hollywood; at press time about 20 C-Reality sales had been reported since it began shipping. Meanwhile, Philips announced the sale of its 100th Spirit Datacine at the show.
Shorts
Avid Technology, Tewksbury, Mass. demoed its developing HD nonlinear editing system, code-named Avid HD. The interface is very similar to its Softimage|DS … Avid is in the process of qualifying Waltham, Mass.-based ICE hardware for use in Avid’s NT-based editing systems … Discreet was quick to try to turn the Avid Media Composer platform debate (see sidebar story, p. 10) into opportunity. Director of marketing Leigh Pesqueira offered Discreet’s NT-based Edit as an alternative to the NT Media Composer, commenting, "Avid’s signaling the end of the Mac. For the price of a [Media Composer] upgrade you can buy an Edit" … Media 100, Marlboro, Mass. announced certification of Apple’s G3 platform … Alias| Wavefront previewed Maya Paint Effects, a brush-based software to be included in a future version of Maya Complete and Maya Unlimited. It is designed to create organic elements such as plants, hair, lightning and fire. … U.K.-headquartered Snell & Wilcox unveiled the HD 1010 1080/24P switcher … Toronto-based Side Effects announced plans to port Houdini to the Linux OS. It is expected to enter beta in May. … And U.K.-based Post Impressions announced the first U.S. order of SpiDDR to New York-based Charlex. Post Impressions has sold roughly 30 systems in Europe since announcing the product last September at IBC ’98.
